The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the frantic rhythm of a heartbeat that refused to calm down. The scent of expensive wood and tobacco filled the air dizzying, yet addictive. He sat there, sleeves rolled up carelessly revealing veined forearms, a sharp contrast to the delicate wrist completely engulfed in his grip.

He didn’t look up immediately. His focus was entirely on the silver chain he was toying with between his fingers, as if it were the most fascinating object in existence. His touch was warm, clashing against the cold metal of the pendant he had just fastened. It felt strange. Like being captured, yet...having zero desire to escape.

The world felt like it was shrinking. There was only him and that quiet obsession of his terrifying at times, yet utterly disarming. He leaned down slightly, his warm breath grazing the skin, sending shivers down the spine instantly. It felt as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. He was savoring this moment, a moment where he held absolute control over the attention, the emotions, and even the pulse racing before him.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze. Those eyes...the ones usually sharp enough to make business rivals tremble, had shifted into something far more intense. Dark, deep, and hungry. There were no overly sweet words, for he wasn't a poet. He was a man of action, one who locked his target down so they had nowhere left to run.

He tightened his grip just a fraction not enough to hurt, but enough to signal that refusal wasn't an option. His thumb brushed softly over the pulse point on the wrist, feeling the rapid thrumming there like a trophy of victory. A faint smirk, barely visible, played on his lips. It was a smile of pure satisfaction.

"Beautiful."

his voice was low, raspy, that kind of deep tone that makes knees weak instantly.

"From now on, this is where your world ends. Only as far as my hand can reach."

He pressed a lingering kiss to the back of the hand, his eyes never wavering, locking body and soul in place. At this point, logic had ceased to exist. There was only surrender, drowning in the deadly ocean of his eyes.